William Harvey Case, former president of Duplin General Hospital, assumes his duties as president of Washington’s hospital, East Carolina Health-Beaufort Inc., today

His appointment was announced Wednesday by Roger Robertson, president of East Carolina Health, the University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina subsidiary that oversees the UHS regional hospitals.

“I am very excited to be a part of the Beaufort County community,” Case said in a news release about the announcement. “Beaufort is a great health-care system with a tradition of service, and I look forward to carrying on that tradition.”

The appointment of a president for the local hospital is the first step UHS has announced as it begins management of the hospital and its affiliated medical practices today.

In announcing Case’s appointment, Robertson cited Case’s experience with health care in eastern North Carolina, particularly his experience in overseeing hospitals that are new to the UHS system.

“Harvey has a rich background in health care in this region,” Robertson said in the news release. “Wherever he has gone at UHS, we have seen improved access to care, better quality and strong financial performance.”

Case succeeds Susan Gerard, who has served as the chief executive officer of Beaufort Regional Health System since July 2010 following the resignation of former CEO Bill Bedsole in June 2010.

Gerard will remain on the local hospital’s leadership team as the senior director of growth and clinical services, Robertson announced.

“We look forward to our continued work with Susan and the other leaders,” Case said in a statement released by UHS. “Susan’s expertise and guidance during the last few months helped us tremendously with the due diligence process. We are excited to have her as part of the UHS family.”

Case was appointed president of Duplin General Hospital in January 2007, shortly before a management agreement with UHS took effect. He continued to serve in that capacity following approval by the Duplin County commissioners of an agreement to lease the 101-bed, nonprofit hospital to UHS in October 2010.

Before taking the Duplin General Hospital assignment, Case served as vice president of operations for East Carolina Health.

During his ECH tenure, he led efforts to standardize financial reporting and goal-setting among the system’s regional hospitals, according to the release.

Case also previously worked at Heritage Hospital in Tarboro as chief financial officer, controller and a financial analyst, and he also worked as interim chief financial officer of the Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head.

Gerard, who served as medical practice administrator for BRHS before being named CEO, said she is excited to assume her new role with UHS. She thanked the local hospital’s staff members for their cooperation during the transition to new management.

“I am excited to continue to work with the team here at Beaufort as a member of the UHS family. I appreciate the hard work, diligence and patience of our staff and the physician community as we have traveled this journey,” Gerard said in the press release. “I, along with the Beaufort staff, am looking forward to working with Harvey and being a part of the future of health care in this region.”

Beaufort Regional Health System board chairwoman Alice Mills Sadler praised Gerard’s leadership.

“Susan stepped into a leadership role during a challenging time. She has a long history with the health system, and her efforts made it easier for staff to work through this process,” Sadler said. “I appreciate the fine job that she has done for us.”